Pitman-coupling.



W. S. MINOR.

PITMAN COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY :1, 191 s.

6 2 M 0 0 d m H PU t a D1 WALTER S. MINOR, OF CUNNINGHAM, TENNESSEE.

- PITMAN-C'OUPLING. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented cat. at, rare.

Application filed July 17, 1915. Serial No. 40,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, WALTER S. MINOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cunningham, in the county of Montgomery and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pitman-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being 'had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in pitman couplings and has relation more particularly to a coupling especially designedand adapted for use in connection with the sickle of a mowing machine, and the invention, as herein embodied, is an improvement on my co-pending application filed Nov. 23, 1914., Serial No. 873,566.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved coupling whereby a direct thrust is imparted to the sickle which results in the elimination of undue friction and excessive wear, thus greatly prolonging the life of the coupling.

Furthermore, it is an object ofthe invention to provide a coupling of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the coupling will be free from cramping or binding between the parts thereof, irrespective of the position to which the cutter bar may be adjusted.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved pitman coupling whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as Wlll be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, T will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pitman connection or coupling constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in top plan, of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the sickle head to which the sickle bar is secured; and Fig. 4 is a View in perspective, detached, of the locking member herein included.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawmgs, 1 denotes the sickle head which includes a base plate having an upstanding longitudinally tapering flange 2 formed upon one of its longitudinal edges and integrally formed with the wide end of said flange 2 is the male element 3 of the coupling. As herein disclosed, this male elelnent consists of a hollow body of spherical formation and provided with the openings 4 in communication with the interior thereof. The pitman bar or arm 5 has its opposite faces parallel and is provided withthe longitudinally spaced bolt receiving openings 6. ntermediate of the openings 6, the pitman has formed therein the rectangular longitudinally extending opening 7.

One-half of the female section of the coupling consists of a solid metal head or block,

8 which is disposed across the end face of the pitman arm or bar and is provided with the parallel straps 9 overlying opposed faces of the pitman arm or bar 4 and preferably along the upper and lower faces of the arm. The straps are secured to the arm through the medium of the rivet 10 disposed through one of the openings 5.

The outer face of the head or block 8 is formed with a concavity 11 provided with the bronze lining or bushing 12 for sliding engagement upon the periphery of the male element 3. The straps 9 are provided with the longitudinally extending slots or openings 14 adapted to register with the opening or slot 7, and, as herein embodied, the

slot 14 of the lower strap 9 is of a greater length than the length ofthe slot or opening 7 while the slot 14 of the upper strap is of less length than the slot or opening 7. The other section of the female part of the coupling includes spaced parallel metal straps 15 which are integrally connected at one of their ends, as at 16, the inner face of said connecting portion being provided with a concavity 17 provided with a bronze lining or bushing 18 also arranged for sliding engagement upon the male element 3. The connecting portion 16 is also provided with a laterally directed lug or extension 19 which is designed for the purpose of preventing the pitman and sickle bar from dropping down when the cutter bar is raised to a vertical position. To this end, an upturned lug 19 is formed upon the sickle bar guide G for contact with the lug or extension 19.

The straps 15 overlie the straps 9 and are retrograde movement.

provided with the elongated openings or slots 20 adapted to register with the second opening 6 and-the intermediate opening or slot 7.

Disposed through the second opening 6 of the arm or bar 5 and the registering openings 20 of the arms 15 is the bolt 21 havingcoacting therewith the clamping nut 22, it being understood that the straps 9 are also provided with suitable openings 23 to permit the application of the bolt 21.

Disposed through the intermediate opening 7 of thearm or bar 5, the openings or slots 14: and the registering openings or slots 20, is the locking member 23', the opposite extremities 24 of which being threaded while the intermediate portion thereof is provided with the beveled shoulders or cam faces 25 disposed in parallel planes and adapted to engage the forward ends of the openings or slots 14 so that upon endwise movement being imparted to said locking member 23 the requisite movement will be imparted to the straps 15 to assure the proper. coaction between the sections of the female part of the coupling and the male part. Coacting with the threaded extremities of the locking member 23 are the nuts 26, the lower nut being slotted in order to permit the use of the cotter pin 27 directed through the member 23 and servingto lock said lower nut against The inner portion of the bore of the upper nut 26 is enlarged so that the requisite endwise movement may be imparted to the locking member 23'. I also find it of advantage to employ in connection with the nuts 22 and the upper nut 26, the enlongated washer 28 common to the bolt 21 and the locking member 23' and overlying the slots 20 of the upper strap 15.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a pitman coupling constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particulafly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I' do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice. l

I claim:

1. A pitman coupling including a spherical male couplingelement on the reciprocating part, two female coupling sections having longitudinally extending straps and adjustable upon each other, said female sec-v tions being provided with concaved bearing surfaces for engagement upon opposite sides of the spherical male coupling e ement, linings for said concaved ,bearing surfaces adapted for direct contact with the male coupling element, a fastening boltextending through the pitman and the straps of thefemale coupling sections to secure the latter in their adjusted positions to the itman, and means for adjusting said fastening bolt longitudinally of the pitman.

2. A pitman coupling-including a spherical male coupling element on the reciprocating part, two female coupling sections having longitudinally extending straps adjustable upon each other, said female sections being provided with concaved bearing surfaces for engagement upon opposite .sides of the spherical male coupling element, a fastening bolt extending through the pitman and the straps of the female coupling section to secure the latter in their adjusted positions to the pitman, and an endwise movable member disposed through the pitman and the straps for adjusting the straps of one of the sections of the female member longitudinally of the pitman.

3. A pitman coupling including a spherical male coupling element on' the reciprocating part, two female coupling sections having longitudinally. extending straps adjustable upon each other; said female sections being provided with concaved bearing surfaces for engagement upon opposite sides of the spherical male coupling element, a fastening bolt extending through the pitman and the straps of the female coupling section to secure the latter in their adjusted positions tothe pitman, and an'endwise movable member disposed through the pitman and the straps for adjusting the straps of one of the sections of the female member longitudinally of the pitman, said endwise movable member being provided with cam faces engageable with the straps of one of the sections of the female coupling.

4. A pitman coupling including a spherical male coupling element on the reciprocating part, two female coupling sections having longitudinally extending straps adjustable upon each other, said female sections being provided with concaved bearing surfaces for engagement upon opposite sides of the spherical male coupling element, and an endwise movable member disposed through the pitman and the straps for adjusting the strapsof one of the sections of the female member longitudinally of the pitman.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. WALTER S. MINOR. Witnesses S. B. HARRIS, CLARENCE YAnBRoUoH. 

